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Kantae V, Polanski R, Lewis HJ, Haider A, Barratt D, Srinivasan B. Accelerating the Validation of Endogenous On-Target Engagement and In Cellulo Kinetic Assessment for Covalent Inhibitors of KRAS G12C in Early Drug Discovery. ACS Chem Biol 2022; 17:2366-2376. [PMID: 35881961 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.2c00483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Covalent inhibition is a valuable modality in drug discovery because of its potential ability in decoupling pharmacokinetics from pharmacodynamics by prolonging the residence time of the drug on the target of interest. This increase in target occupancy is limited only by the rate of target turnover. However, a limitation in such studies is to translate the in vitro inhibition assessment to the appropriate in cellulo target engagement parameter by covalent probes. Estimation of such parameters is often impeded by the low-throughput nature of current probe-free approaches. In this study, an ultra-performance liquid chromatography-multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry platform was utilized to develop a targeted proteomics workflow that can evaluate cellular on-target engagement of covalent molecules in an increased throughput manner. This workflow enabled a throughput increase of 5-10 fold when compared to traditional nanoLC-based proteomics studies. To demonstrate the applicability of the method, KRASG12C was used as a model system to investigate the interaction of an irreversible covalent small molecule, compound 25, both in vitro and in cellulo. Initial biochemical studies confirmed that the small molecule forms an adduct with the targeted cysteine on the protein, as assessed at the level of both intact protein and on the target peptide. In cellulo studies were carried out to quantify target engagement and allele selectivity assessment for the small molecule in the heterozygous NCI-H358 cell line for KRASG12C with respect to the WT type protein. The workflow enabled evaluation of in vitro and in cellulo target engagement kinetics, providing mechanistic insights into the irreversible mode of inhibition. In summary, the method has the potential for target agnostic application in the assessment of on-target engagement of covalent probes compatible with the high-throughput requirements of early drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasudev Kantae
- Mechanistic and Structural Biology, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge CB4 0WG, U.K
| | - Radoslaw Polanski
- Mechanistic and Structural Biology, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge CB4 0WG, U.K
| | | | - Afreen Haider
- Mechanistic and Structural Biology, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge CB4 0WG, U.K
| | - Derek Barratt
- Mechanistic and Structural Biology, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge CB4 0WG, U.K
| | - Bharath Srinivasan
- Mechanistic and Structural Biology, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge CB4 0WG, U.K
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Koch-Heier J, Schönsiegel A, Waidele LM, Volk J, Füll Y, Wallasch C, Canisius S, Burnet M, Planz O. Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics and Antiviral Efficacy of the MEK Inhibitor Zapnometinib in Animal Models and in Humans. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:893635. [PMID: 35784712 PMCID: PMC9240354 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.893635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK) inhibitor zapnometinib is in development to treat acute viral infections like COVID-19 and influenza. While the antiviral efficacy of zapnometinib is well documented, further data on target engagement/pharmacodynamics (PD) and pharmacokinetics (PK) are needed. Here, we report zapnometinib PK and PD parameters in mice, hamsters, dogs, and healthy human volunteers. Mice received 25 mg/kg/day zapnometinib (12.5 mg/kg p. o. twice daily, 8 h interval). Syrian hamsters received 30 mg/kg (15 mg/kg twice daily) or 60 mg/kg/day once daily. Beagle dogs were administered 300 mg/kg/day, and healthy human volunteers were administered 100, 300, 600 and 900 mg zapnometinib (once daily p. o.). Regardless of species or formulation, zapnometinib maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) was reached between 2–4 h after administration with an elimination half-life of 4–5 h in dogs, 8 h in mice or hamsters and 19 h in human subjects. Doses were sufficient to cause up to 80% MEK inhibition. Across all species approximately 10 μg/ml zapnometinib was appropriate to inhibit 50% of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) MEK activity. In mice, a 50%–80% reduction of MEK activity was sufficient to reduce influenza virus titer in the lungs by more than 90%. In general, while >50% MEK inhibition was reached in vivo at most doses, 80% inhibition in PBMCs required significantly higher doses and appeared to be the practical maximal level obtained in vivo. However, the period of reduced phosphorylated extracellular-signal regulated kinase (pERK), a measure of MEK inhibition, was maintained even after elimination of zapnometinib from plasma, suggesting a sustained effect on MEK consistent with regulatory effects or a slow off-rate. These data suggest a target plasma Cmax of at least 10 μg/ml zapnometinib in further clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Koch-Heier
- Department of Immunology, Interfaculty Institute for Cell Biology, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
- Atriva Therapeutics GmbH, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Annika Schönsiegel
- Department of Immunology, Interfaculty Institute for Cell Biology, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
- Atriva Therapeutics GmbH, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Lara Maria Waidele
- Department of Immunology, Interfaculty Institute for Cell Biology, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
- Atriva Therapeutics GmbH, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Julian Volk
- Department of Immunology, Interfaculty Institute for Cell Biology, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
- Atriva Therapeutics GmbH, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Yvonne Füll
- Atriva Therapeutics GmbH, Tuebingen, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Oliver Planz
- Department of Immunology, Interfaculty Institute for Cell Biology, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
- Atriva Therapeutics GmbH, Tuebingen, Germany
- *Correspondence: Oliver Planz,
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Jiang M, Chattopadhyay AN, Rotello VM. Cell-Based Chemical Safety Assessment and Therapeutic Discovery Using Array-Based Sensors. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:3672. [PMID: 35409032 PMCID: PMC8998465 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Synthetic chemicals are widely used in food, agriculture, and medicine, making chemical safety assessments necessary for environmental exposure. In addition, the rapid determination of chemical drug efficacy and safety is a key step in therapeutic discoveries. Cell-based screening methods are non-invasive as compared with animal studies. Cellular phenotypic changes can also provide more sensitive indicators of chemical effects than conventional cell viability. Array-based cell sensors can be engineered to maximize sensitivity to changes in cell phenotypes, lowering the threshold for detecting cellular responses under external stimuli. Overall, array-based sensing can provide a robust strategy for both cell-based chemical risk assessments and therapeutics discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Vincent M. Rotello
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 710 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA 01003, USA; (M.J.); (A.N.C.)
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Rothweiler EM, Brennan PE, Huber KVM. Covalent fragment-based ligand screening approaches for identification of novel ubiquitin proteasome system modulators. Biol Chem 2022; 403:391-402. [PMID: 35191283 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2021-0396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Ubiquitination is a key regulatory mechanism vital for maintenance of cellular homeostasis. Protein degradation is induced by E3 ligases via attachment of ubiquitin chains to substrates. Pharmacological exploitation of this phenomenon via targeted protein degradation (TPD) can be achieved with molecular glues or bifunctional molecules facilitating the formation of ternary complexes between an E3 ligase and a given protein of interest (POI), resulting in ubiquitination of the substrate and subsequent proteolysis by the proteasome. Recently, the development of novel covalent fragment screening approaches has enabled the identification of first-in-class ligands for E3 ligases and deubiquitinases revealing so far unexplored binding sites which highlights the potential of these methods to uncover and expand druggable space for new target classes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth M Rothweiler
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Centre for Medicines Discovery, Oxford OX3 7FZ, UK.,Nuffield Department of Medicine, Target Discovery Institute, Oxford OX3 7FZ, UK
| | - Paul E Brennan
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Centre for Medicines Discovery, Oxford OX3 7FZ, UK.,Nuffield Department of Medicine, Target Discovery Institute, Oxford OX3 7FZ, UK.,Nuffield Department of Medicine, Alzheimer's Research UK Oxford Drug Discovery Institute, Oxford OX3 7FZ, UK
| | - Kilian V M Huber
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Centre for Medicines Discovery, Oxford OX3 7FZ, UK.,Nuffield Department of Medicine, Target Discovery Institute, Oxford OX3 7FZ, UK
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Jörg M, Madden KS. The right tools for the job: the central role for next generation chemical probes and chemistry-based target deconvolution methods in phenotypic drug discovery. RSC Med Chem 2021; 12:646-665. [PMID: 34124668 PMCID: PMC8152813 DOI: 10.1039/d1md00022e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The reconnection of the scientific community with phenotypic drug discovery has created exciting new possibilities to develop therapies for diseases with highly complex biology. It promises to revolutionise fields such as neurodegenerative disease and regenerative medicine, where the development of new drugs has consistently proved elusive. Arguably, the greatest challenge in readopting the phenotypic drug discovery approach exists in establishing a crucial chain of translatability between phenotype and benefit to patients in the clinic. This remains a key stumbling block for the field which needs to be overcome in order to fully realise the potential of phenotypic drug discovery. Excellent quality chemical probes and chemistry-based target deconvolution techniques will be a crucial part of this process. In this review, we discuss the current capabilities of chemical probes and chemistry-based target deconvolution methods and evaluate the next advances necessary in order to fully support phenotypic screening approaches in drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Jörg
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University Bedson Building Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU UK
- Medicinal Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University Parkville Victoria 3052 Australia
| | - Katrina S Madden
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University Bedson Building Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU UK
- Medicinal Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University Parkville Victoria 3052 Australia
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